The Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Excellency Vice Admiral (R) Khan Hasham Bin Saddique hosted a dinner aboard Pakistan Navy Ship ZULFIQAR berthed at Jubail port on Saturday 10 February 2018. The dinner was held in honor of the officers of Royal Saudi Naval forces (RSNF) and Pakistan Navy, participating in joint naval exercises in the Gulf. Prominent members of Pakistani community were also invited. The Commander of Eastern fleet of Royal Saudi Naval forces Rear Admiral Laafi Al Harbi was the guest of honor on the occasion.

2. Addressing the gathering, the Ambassador thanked the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for their leadership in enhancing the strategic relations between the two countries. He also thanked and appreciated the hospitality and professional excellence of the RSNF. He stated that the relations between the two countries, in all spheres, were growing stronger with each passing day. He termed the exercises as yet another milestone of defence cooperation between the forces of the two countries. He added that such exercises provide an opportunity for exchange of expertise and knowledge of modern techniques of naval warfare which were helpful in building the capacity of both navies for countering the threats posed in the maritime arena.

3. Pakistan Navy flotilla comprising PN Ships Zulfiqar, Tariq, Azmat, Quwwat, Munsif, Pakistan Navy helicopters and P3C Orion Long Range maritime patrol aircrafts are these days in the Kingdom for 11th edition of Naseem Al Bahr series of naval exercises which started on Saturday. These bilateral exercises also include the first ever Joint Mine counter measures exercise and Deraa Al Sahil, the marine forces exercise. The bilateral exercises aimed at further strengthening naval cooperation between the two countries, will continue till 17th February.